They stared at each other for what seemed like hours

They stared at each other for what seemed like hours. The winter silence only intensified the moment. A thousand things ran through her mind. Was he her foe, or her hero? How typical is it to see a hero on a white steed charging to a damsels rescue? A small cloud of fog bellowed from the horse's nostrils as is relaxed in its idle stance. The horseman abruptly kicked his sides making toward her in a slow intense walk. He made his way past her as if she didn't even exist. Aiyana looked at him in awe as his stature made her feel small and frail. After he gained a distance between them she yelled breaking the long dreadful silence "Hey!! Where am I? Please tell me where I am!" He didn't stop. She stood up and followed him like a puppy after a child going home. She bit her lip and said in frustration "Please! I just….I just want to go home!" A small tear made it down her cheek that felt cold against the chilly wind. The man pulled his reins slightly causing the horse to come to a halt. Her breaths deepened as she waited for his answer. He turned his horse and made his way to her making her feel small once again. With one swift moment, he offered his hand to her. She hesitated, feeling slightly nervous about the large horse, but softly accepted his hand only to be pulled roughly over the front of the horse. He moved her to balance her between him and the horse like a young child in his arms. She blushed slightly at the feeling of having him hold her in such manner. She then realized, the horse was even taller on it, making her slightly scared. The horseman ignored her obvious fear and kicked the horse's sides putting it into full gallop out of the white forest. She held onto him for what seemed like dear life. The feeling of the horse moving on her was so real; she was beginning to doubt she was dreaming. She clutched onto him, almost digging her nails in his arms. She felt embarrassed. After a long hour ride, they finally made it to noticeable trails that lead them out of the forest and into a small town. The town looked like something out of a story book. The people were all busy, cooking, selling, or cleaning something. It was almost too cliché. What made it even more fictional was the large Cinderella looking castle in the back. The castle however, was dark and had a green aging tinge to it, so it didn't look too bad. The smells of the town filled her nostrils making her feel safe and also very hungry. Bringing his horse to a long waited halt, the man dismounted and brought himself to help her off the side. Gently lifting her down he motioned her to stay put. He brought his horse behind a house that looked what she thought was a barn. Being alone, she thought she would analyze what just happened. She was in a new time, or different world. People looked like they just popped out of a sickening happy Disney movie. The forest was creepy, and her tree looked the same. Did Soren make it through the door? After running through all of those thoughts, her head started to pulse in frustration. She was interrupted by a hand on her shoulder. She jumped and quickly saw the man who saved her. She blushed and said "I never got a chance to thank you yet…so thank you." He ignored her and began to take off his helmet. Feeling aired out she pretended to be looking at something else. Maybe he didn't hear her? Maybe she is just thinking too hard again. When she finally turned to see him she was shocked to see his beautiful features. His face was smooth, almost touchable despite a slight scruff under his chin. His eyes were deep pools of ice blue, while his hair resembled much of a golden brown. He caught her gawking at him and raised an eye brow. Her face turned three shades of red making her try too pretend she was looking at something else. He nodded toward a house with a yellow tint in the windows. The house looked small and homey, a warm smell of fresh bread escaped through the door as they both approached the house. Her stomach growled in approval making her feel embarrassed by the noise. The moment they entered the house they were greeted by warm almost angelic voice "Edan!! Where have you been? I had dinner out for two hours and…oh who is this?" He glanced at her as if asking her the same question. Feeling the light on her, she quickly said "I'm Aiyana; it's never nice to meet you." The old woman must have been his mother. Her small rivulets on her face made her seem to be sage. A smile stretched along her face almost making her eyes shut "It's always a pleasure to meet one of Edan's friends." Noticing her obvious hunger she quickly beckoned her to the table "Come eat! There is plenty to go around!" Feeling slightly mad at her for how quickly she sat down and waited to be fed. She looked at Edan and waited for him to join them but felt slightly bummed when he left the two of them to go and tend to some matter in a different room. Aiya stared at the direction he left, only to be distracted when his mother brought in a sweet aroma of warm bread. "Here you go lass" she said as she handed Aiyana a small loaf. Bighting into it fiercely she devoured the delicious piece of heaven in moments. The woman laughed and broke the hunger silence by saying "So how did you meet my son?" She coughed a small piece of bread and said nervously "He rescued me today from a wolf. I am so thankful he was there." She sighed and said "Wolfs again, I swear they are getting to close to the village these days, oh would you like another piece?" Aiyana nodded and reached for another serving. The woman relaxed back and said "He has been keeping watch lately, from the wolves. I am so proud of him stepping up, but at the same time as a mother I worry sometimes." She gulped down another piece of bread "He seems quite strong to me. He's a little quiet though". She hit herself in the head for saying something like that. His mother looked at her in shock and said "You do not know?" Aiya looked at her confused "Know what?" His mother sighed and said "I suppose he can't really tell you. He is mute, has been ever since he was eight. The doctors never knew the cause but some speculate it is from the stress of loosing his father from such a young age." Aiya stared at the table feeling slightly shamed for being slightly rude to him when he wouldn't answer him. She looked at her and said "He is a good boy though, just as capable as any other lad in this whole village. His father would have been very proud if he could only see him today" Aiya smiled and nodded "Yes, I think he would be too. He is a good man" After finishing dinner, and a long talk about getting Aiya some clothes and a place to stay, she found herself feeling slightly at home in this strange new world.